Nearly 100 high school students in Clackamas County enter safe driving media contest

Students from Lake Oswego, Sandy and Rex Putnam high schools won the top three spots in the Posters and Coasters Safe Driving Media Contest sponsored by Clackamas County Safe Communities.

Students were asked to create art work or written messages that promote safe driving to reach out to others in the community. Art work or written messages were based on risk factors such as speed, distracted driving or impaired driving; or on prevention strategies such as seat belt use, parent support or graduated driver licenses.

Ninety-eight Clackamas County high school students submitted entries, which were judged by a panel led by Patty McMillan, Clackamas County Safe Communities Program. McMillan said, “We were overwhelmed by the high quality of the submissions. Our judges had a difficult job.”

First Place: Melody Xu, a sophomore at Lake Oswego High School, with “Keep Your Eyes on the Road,” reminding drivers to keep their attention on the road.

Second Place: Karlee Edwards, a sophomore at Sandy High School, with “Life is a Gift – Wrap it in Safety,” reminding drivers and occupants to buckle up and stay safe.

Third Place: Ellen Scharff, a freshman at Rex Putnam High School with “With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility – Drive Safe,” reminding drivers to be dutiful and dependable.

Clackamas Town Center provided gift cards for the top three winners in the amount of $300, $200 and $100 and the seven “Honorable Mention” awardees received cash prizes of $50 each provided by State Farm Insurance. The posters may be viewed at www.ClackamasSafeCommunities.org under RESOURCES – Posters and Coasters – Award Winners.

This was the third safe driving contest sponsored by Safe Communities since 2008. This year, the contest was sponsored by Clackamas County Safe Communities, Clackamas Town Center and State Farm Insurance.

For more information: Patty McMillan, Safe Communities Program Coordinator, 503-742-4661 or PMcMillan@clackamas.us.